Artie’s Tenderloin In Kokomo Now A Historic Landmark

There’s a tiny eatery in Kokomo that serves up a mean tenderloin and beef stew. But they’ve recently gained attention as a historic landmark for being Kokomo’s longest continuously operated restaurant. The year was 1938 when Artie Gillespie opened up shop and started feeding residents of the City of Firsts. But the building is even older, erected back in 1910. Kokomo’s Historic Review Board will present Artie’s with a plaque this week to recognize their achievement.

The first time I went to Artie’s was with my dad back in the 80s. As you enter, you immediately get the feel of a small diner. I can remember seeing customers at the counter, sipping coffee, talking about the Kokomo Wildkats football team. That small town charm that big cities might poke fun at really is unique. Artie’s staff talked to us like we had been in there for years. Other customers talked to my dad about Chrysler, where he worked for 35 years, so of course there was a common bond. But when it came to ordering, there was one thing on the menu that I had to try. Their world famous tenderloin. Now Kokomo has several restaurants that serve huge tenderloins, but you’ve gotta be pretty sure of yourself if you put TENDERLOINS right in your business’s name. If you’ve never been, I definitely recommend making a trip to this historic eatery.